AUBURN, Alabama -- Gus Malzahn does not need any extra motivation this week.

The highest-ranked Iron Bowl match-up in history should be enough motivation, and so should the prospect of Auburn potentially playing its way into the BCS national championship game with a victory against No. 1 Alabama and the SEC Championship.

"I'm pretty motivated," Malzahn said. "We could be playing a junior high team and I'm going to be very motivated."

Still, the routine remains the same this week as No. 4 Auburn (10-1, 6-1 SEC) prepares for No. 1 Alabama (11-0, 7-0). The Tigers will practice Monday instead of taking the day off, of course, because of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

Malzahn stuck to his one-game-at-a-time mantra Monday, his first day speaking to local reporters since the Tigers' 43-38 comeback victory against Georgia on Nov. 16.

Still, there's no denying that the players tend to crack a time or two when it comes to preparing for this game.

"It means something to us, knowing the position we're in and what's at stake," tight end C.J. Uzomah said. "Obviously, it's going to mean a little bit to us. However, coach Malzahn and his entire staff is saying, 'Don't feed into the magnitude of this game and what everyone is trying to bring into this game with the publicity and all that.' He's kind of saying, 'Just take a deep breath. Relax. We're going to play our game.'"

Auburn reached this position thanks to its strong running game, which ranks second in the nation (320.3 yards per game), three comebacks in the fourth quarter and an opportunistic defense in the red zone (14th in the nation).

The question is whether Malzahn and his coaches are spending more time inside the Auburn Athletic Complex preparing for the Tide. The coach hinted at putting in extra hours on this holiday week, but contends there are no cots in the assistant coaches' offices this week.

"The later it goes and the later in the season, you do everything in your power to help your team be successful," Malzahn said. "Our coaches are very driven and we understand that we're going to have to do our best job and our players are going to have to do their best job, too."

Players were not surprised when they heard Malzahn said he's approaching the week like any other.

"That’s coach Malzahn," defensive tackle Nosa Eguae said. "It’s about the process, man. Every single day we’re going to do what we have to do to get better. That’s what got us here and that’s what we’re going to do this week. Nothing is going to change. We’re going to do what we do. We’re going to come out there Saturday and play great football."